Chronology of Environmental Conventions, Protocols & Agreements

1. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971)

- Adopted: February 2, 1971
- Came into Force: December 21, 1975
- Organization Created: Ramsar Secretariat (Under IUCN)
- Related Organization: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Reason for Existence: Wetlands were rapidly disappearing due to urbanization and agriculture. This convention was
created to protect key wetland ecosystems worldwide.
- Major Initiatives:
- Montreux Record (1990): A list of wetlands facing ecological changes due to human activity.
- Wetland City Accreditation (2015): Recognizes cities that effectively manage their wetlands.
2. Stockholm Conference (1972) - UN Conference on the Human Environment
- Date: June 5-16, 1972
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
- Organization Created: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- Related Organization: World Health Organization (WHO) (addressed pollution effects on health)
- Reason for Existence: The 1960s saw increasing pollution, oil spills, and industrial waste. Public outcry led to the first
international conference on environmental issues.
- Major Outcomes:
- Stockholm Declaration: Recognized environmental issues as a global concern.
- UNEP was established to coordinate environmental activities worldwide.
3. Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985)
- Adopted: March 22, 1985
- Came into Force: September 22, 1988
- Organization Created: Ozone Secretariat (Under UNEP)
- Related Organization: World Meteorological Organization (WMO) (monitors ozone depletion)
- Reason for Existence: Scientists discovered a hole in the ozone layer, caused by human-made chemicals (CFCs). This
prompted global action.
- Major Initiative:
- Promoted scientific research on ozone depletion, leading to the Montreal Protocol.
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987)
- Adopted: September 16, 1987
- Came into Force: January 1, 1989
- Organization Created: Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol
- Related Organization: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) (helps industries transition away
from harmful chemicals)
- Reason for Existence: The Vienna Convention recognized ozone depletion but lacked action plans. This protocol was
created to phase out ozone-depleting chemicals.
- Major Initiatives:
- Multilateral Fund (1990): Provided financial assistance to developing countries.
- Kigali Amendment (2016): Phased out HFCs, a greenhouse gas.
4. Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes (1989)
- Adopted: March 22, 1989
- Came into Force: May 5, 1992
- Organization Created: Basel Convention Secretariat (Under UNEP)
- Related Organization: International Maritime Organization (IMO) (monitors waste transport regulations)
- Reason for Existence: Developed countries were dumping hazardous waste in poorer nations, leading to
environmental disasters.
- Major Initiative:
- Basel Ban Amendment (1995): Banned hazardous waste export from developed to developing countries.
5. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (1992)
- Adopted: 1992
- Came into Force: 1994
- Organization Created: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat
- Related Organization: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (provides scientific assessments on climate
change)
- Reason for Existence: Rising CO2 emissions and global warming required an international framework for coordinated
action.
- Major Initiatives:
- Annual Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings to review progress.
6. Kyoto Protocol (1997)
- Adopted: December 11, 1997
- Came into Force: February 16, 2005
- Organization Created: UNFCCC Secretariat (for implementation)
- Related Organization: World Bank (manages carbon credit mechanisms under the protocol)
- Reason for Existence: Global temperatures were rising, and industrialized nations were responsible for most
emissions. This protocol set legally binding targets for them.
- Major Initiatives:
- Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): Allowed developed nations to invest in emission reduction projects in
developing nations.
- Joint Implementation (JI): Allowed developed nations to collaborate on emission reduction projects.
7. Paris Agreement (2015)
- Adopted: December 12, 2015
- Came into Force: November 4, 2016
- Organization Created: Paris Committee on Capacity-Building (PCCB)
- Related Organization: Green Climate Fund (GCF) (finances climate action projects in developing nations)
- Reason for Existence: The Kyoto Protocol only included developed nations. The Paris Agreement made all nations
accountable for climate action.
- Major Initiatives:
- Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Countries set voluntary emission reduction targets.
- Loss and Damage Fund (2022): Supports vulnerable countries affected by climate change.
8. Rotterdam Convention (1998)
- Adopted: September 10, 1998
- Came into Force: February 24, 2004
- Organization Created: Rotterdam Convention Secretariat (Under FAO and UNEP)
- Related Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (monitors pesticide regulations)
- Reason for Existence: Harmful pesticides and chemicals were being traded without informing importing nations,
leading to health hazards.
- Major Initiative:
- Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure: Ensures importing countries are aware of risks before accepting hazardous
chemicals.
9. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (2001)
- Adopted: May 22, 2001
- Came into Force: May 17, 2004
- Organization Created: Stockholm Convention Secretariat (Under UNEP)
- Related Organization: World Health Organization (WHO) (monitors health effects of toxic chemicals)
- Reason for Existence: Toxic chemicals like DDT and PCBs were found to persist in the environment, affecting human
health.
- Major Initiative:
- Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Funding: Provides financial support for eliminating POPs.
10. Minamata Convention on Mercury (2013)
- Adopted: October 10, 2013
- Came into Force: August 16, 2017
- Organization Created: Minamata Convention Secretariat
- Related Organization: United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) (provides mercury waste
management training)
- Reason for Existence: Mercury poisoning incidents, like the Minamata Disease in Japan, led to global action against
mercury use.
- Major Initiative:
- Ban on New Mercury Mines (2018): Stopped new mercury mining worldwide.